• By Vanshika Choudhary
• January 1, 2026

Cloud computing is a technology that is often viewed as cutting-edge, but it has its roots in basic networking principles. Newbies flock to AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud learning, but they do not even have an understanding of the network,s and this leads to confusion in dealing with virtual networks, IP addresses, security rules, or connectivity problems.

Networking is the backbone of any cloud service delivery. It is networking that determines in what manner communication takes place, be it between users and servers or across different cloud services. Without a clear understanding of networking, the cloud concept can feel somewhat segmented and less intuitive.

To become familiar with cloud computing and use cloud platforms with confidence, the first step is to master the basics of networking. In this blog post, we will cover all essential networking concepts you need to know before you start your journey in the cloud, in a structured and detailed manner.

1. What Is Computer Networking?

Computer networking refers to the connection of various devices in such a way that they can converse and also share data among themselves. Such devices can be computers, servers, routers, switches, and even anything in the cloud. Networking makes it possible for data to move quickly and accurately from point A to point B.

The moment you click ‘send’ on an email, enter a URL to visit a website, or use an online app, networking has already done its work. If there were no networking, all the digital communication that we have today would not have been possible.

In the case of cloud computing, networking serves as a link between the user and the remote data center where the cloud resources are located. With an understanding of networking, one can easily picture how cloud services interact among themselves and with the outside world in terms of different regions and users.

2. Networking Knowledge Is Important Before Learning Cloud

Cloud platforms are completely based on networking concepts that include virtual networks, routing, gateways, and firewalls. Communicating through networking is a requirement for every cloud resource, be it a virtual machine or a database, to speak with each other. The non-networking knowledgeable person will find these services perplexing and haphazard.

There are many beginners who are experiencing these kinds of problems when trying to configure cloud services, just because they do not have the right permissions in terms of traffic or access control. They, oftentimes, are just following tutorials without even knowing the purpose of a given setting. Such things only give rise to errors and hence make it hard to rectify.

If you overcome the basics of networking first, then the concepts of the cloud will be logical and less difficult to learn thereafter. You can make secure designs, allocate resources to their best, and, with a great deal of confidence, solve real-world cloud problems.

3. Grasping IP Addresses (IPv4 and IPv6)

An IP address is a unique number assigned to networked devices that tells the system their exact location. It acts like an address for digital communication and ensures that data reaches the right device. Without IP addresses, it would be impossible for devices to communicate with each other.

IPv4, though not the only one, remains the most common IP version and uses a format that can be described as a dotted decimal, e.g., 192.168.1.1. The only problem with this is the scarcity of IPv4 addresses, which has made it harder for the increasing number of global communication devices.

The introduction of IPv6, among other things, aimed at bringing an enormous address space and, therefore, no more limitations in this regard. Companies using cloud technology will see both IPv4 and IPv6 used in the allotment of identity for VMs and other cloud resources.

4. Public IP Address vs Private IP Address

A public IP address acts as a key that opens a device or service to the world and the internet. Network providers assign public IPs to devices, enabling users to access websites, public servers, and cloud applications. Users connect from anywhere through these public IPs.

A private IP address functions as an internal network address that blocks direct access from the outside internet. Internal systems such as servers, databases, and applications use private IPs to communicate securely. Organizations reduce security threats by using private IP addresses.

Most cloud resources by default employ private IPs. The assignment of public IPs is done only when external access is necessary; hence, that’s why this concept is crucial for cloud security and design.

5. Types of Networks: LAN, WAN, and Internet

A Local Area Network (LAN) connects computers and other devices in a small physical area, such as a home, office, or building. Quick communication is the primary advantage of LANs, and therefore, they are widely used by companies and organizations. Furthermore, they can be managed easily and provide high reliability.

On the other hand, a Wide Area Network (WAN) links a number of local area networks (LANs) that are located in different cities, countries, or even continents. This network makes it possible to communicate over long distances and is therefore the backbone of the global network. WANs are generally slower than LANs due to the distances involved.

6. Subnetting and CIDR Notation

Subnetting is the term used to refer to an operation that breaks down a large network into smaller and more easily manageable units called subnets. One advantage of this network separation is that it helps to control the amount of data sent over the network and improves performance overall by decreasing redundant data transfers. Moreover, it helps to organize the network resources within a system better. In cloud environments, subnetting can be used to effectively separate different types of workloads.

Every subnet has its own specific IP address range, which helps network administrators in determining the resources that can communicate with one another. Through the creation of several subnets, businesses can keep their sensitive systems separate from public-facing services.

CIDR notation is an efficient and flexible way to represent subnets, and it indicates the number of IP addresses in a specific range. For example, a subnet with CIDR notation /24 has 256 IP addresses available, while /16 has 65,536. Proper CIDR planning in the cloud prevents IP conflicts, and it secures the network expanding into the future. 

7. What Is DNS and How It Works

The Domain Name System, or DNS, is the one that performs the job of converting the machine-friendly IP addresses of websites into human-readable domain names. Instead of typing in numbers, users access the various services with names such as example.com, which are simple to remember. Then, the internet is user-friendly, and its accessibility is for all. DNS is the factor that makes the huge web area manageable.

Whenever a person types in a web page address, a DNS inquiry is transmitted to spot the appropriate IP address behind the name. The DNS servers provide the right IP through their reply, hence the request goes to the designated server. The whole procedure is done in seconds, thus ensuring uninterrupted communication. 

Cloud computing uses DNS as a major player in traffic to the cloud services. It assists in load balancing, failover, and service discovery. Knowledge of DNS enables cloud practitioners to create highly dependable and easily expandable applications. Wrong DNS settings can drastically reduce the users’ access to the app.

8. Ports and Network Protocols

Ports function as logical communication endpoints, which make it possible for several applications to run on one machine. Each of the services has a specified port number they are listening to, thus ensuring the delivery of data to the right application. Ports serve the purpose of network communication, organizing in a very efficient manner.

Network protocols provide a blueprint for transferring data between devices. TCP and UDP manage the transactions of data packets. HTTP and HTTPS handle web communication at the application level. Each protocol plays a vital role in completing its assigned network task.

Ports and protocols are controlled in the cloud environment through the use of security configurations. A thorough understanding of the functioning of ports and protocols would enable one to secure cloud resources and, at the same time, ensure proper connectivity. Check out our latest blog post on How Cloud Computing Helps Companies Protect Their Data

9. Network Address Translation (NAT)

Network Address Translation is a technique that allows the devices on a private network to access a public network, such as the internet, by means of a single public IP address. Thus, this method not only helps in conserving public IP addresses but also in putting a veil over the details of the internal network. NAT contributes to the security of the network by making the private IPs invisible to the outside world. It is its flexibility that has made it widely accepted and used in modern networks.

NAT gateways in cloud platforms are used to connect private cloud resources to the internet securely. Such a connection is necessary for updates, patches, and access to external APIs. Knowing NAT is vital in the design of secure cloud architectures. If NAT is misconfigured, it can either block connectivity or expose the risks.

10. Firewalls and Network Security Basics

A firewall is a kind of protective measure that keeps an eye on and determines the fate of network traffic that comes and goes to and from a system. It uses some standard rules to permit or refuse the specific traffic. Firewalls not only keep the systems safe from unauthorized access and cyberattacks but also serve as the main protective line of defense in network security.

Firewalls in a cloud setup are provided by using a combination of security groups and network access control lists. The operation of these tools is completely dependent on IP addresses, ports, and protocols. The right configuration will make sure that only the necessary traffic gets through, while the wrong rules will cause security breaches.

Grasping the idea of a firewall is a prerequisite for cloud security studies. Firewalls have a big role in protecting and providing access at the same time to cloud resources. A firm grip on firewalls will lead to a better cloud security strategy and risk management.

11. Load Balancing Fundamentals

Load balancing is the technique of allocating the incoming network traffic evenly among several servers. This way, it avoids the situation where one server gets too much traffic, and the whole application slows down. Load balancing contributes to better usage of resources. Besides, it is crucial when one has to deal with large amounts of traffic.

In the event of a server failure, the load balancer automatically shifts the traffic to the remaining servers that are not down. Load balancers are continuously checking the status of the servers. All this leads to applications that are more dependable and tougher.

The cloud vendors provide managed load-balancing services that take care of the traffic management in a very uncomplicated manner. The knowledge of load balancing is a factor that contributes to the design of scalable cloud applications. It becomes a major principle for the high-availability cloud architecture.

Conclusion

Networking is essential for any form of cloud computing, and if it is neglected, it results in misunderstandings and errors. All sorts of cloud services are relying on networking concepts like IP, subnetting, DNS, NAT, firewall, and load balancing. On the other hand, if this knowledge is not obtained, cloud learning is doomed to be nothing but a theoretical one.

If the basics of networking are learned first, then the concepts of the cloud will be much easier to understand and apply. The learner will have a clear view of how cloud resources will communicate with each other, be secured, and be efficiently scaled. Contact us as this will lead to a reduction of errors and an improvement in troubleshooting skills.

A solid network foundation reaps the rewards of turning cloud learning into a world-class skill. It equips you for getting through the Play Cloud roles and having a career path that never ends. The networking mastery comes first, and then cloud computing follows without much effort.